allow for

phrasal verb

allowed for; allowing for; allows for
1
: to think about or plan for (something that will or might happen in the future)
When purchasing property, the company should allow for possible future growth/expansion.
2
: to consider (something) when one makes a calculation
The total distance, allowing for detours, is about 10 miles.
If you allow for inflation, he's actually earning less money now than he was 10 years ago.
3
: to make (something) possible
The design of the system allows for easy upgrades.

Examples of allow for in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The law that Congress passed and then-President Biden signed in April allowed for a 90-day extension if there had been progress toward a sale before the statute’s effective date. Sally Ho, Los Angeles Times, 21 Jan. 2025 The same order also allows for greater military surveillance at the border, including the use of uncrewed aerial systems. Brett Samuels, The Hill, 21 Jan. 2025 Responses were tallied and the analysis included survey data from the last three years, which allowed for a robust assessment of organizations that consistently ranked well versus those that may have had just one good year. Rachel Rabkin Peachman, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025 Milan are pressing ahead with the signing of England right-back Kyle Walker from Manchester City, which is being worked on and would preclude them from signing another British player due to post-Brexit regulations limiting the numbers allowed for Serie A clubs. Laurie Whitwell, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for allow for 

Dictionary Entries Near allow for

Cite this Entry

“Allow for.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/allow%20for. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.

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